Apparatus for removing ballast from beneath a railroad track



BO, 96@ a. G. KERSHAW APPARATUS FOR REMOVING BALLAST FROM BENEATH A RAILROAD TRACK Filed March l0, 1958 7 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. @gyra G Kefsbaw Aug 3Q 196@ R. G. KERSHAW 2,95%54 APPARATUS FOR REMOVING BALLAST FROM EENE'ATH A RAILROAD TRACK Filed March lO, 1958 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. \9 gyce G. Ker-Shaw yymv w 30, W60 R. G. KERSHAW 2995549 APPARATUS FOR REMOVING BALLAST FROM BENETH A RAILROAD TRACK Filed March l0, 1958 7 Sheeis-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. @2J/ce Kershaw Htofhgys Aug.. 3U, 1960 R. G. KERsHAw 2,950,549

APPARATUS FOR REMOVING BALLAST FROM BENEATH A RAILROAD TRACK Filed March 10, 1958 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR, Agyce GA/ersbaw BY l:

AUZ- 30, 1960 R. G. KERsHAw 2,950,549

T FROM BENEATH A RAILROAD TRACK APPARATUS FOR 'REMOVING BALLAS Filed March l0. 1958 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 @Juv INVENT OR. @910e G Kers/7a w BY v M, MM

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19t-torn ej s Aug. 30, 1960 R. G. KERsHAw APPARATUS FOR REMOVING BALLAST FROM BENEATH A RAILROAD TRACK Filed March lO. 1958 7 Sheets-Shag?. 6

Aug. 30, 1960 R. G. KERsHAw 2,950,549

APPARATUS FOR REMOVING BALLAST FROM BENETH A RAILROAD TRACK 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed March 10, 1958 INV ENT OR. @gy ce G Ker Shaw BY funny/@fwn Htornfs 2,95,549 Patented Aug. 30, 1960 lud APPARATUS FR REMOVING BALLAST FROM BENEATH A RAILROAD TRACK Royce G. Kershaw, Post Olice Drawer 1711, Montgomery, Ala.

Filed Mar. 10, 1958, Ser. N0. 720,119

Claims. (Cl. 37-104) This invention relates to apparatus for removing ballast from beneath the crossties of a railroad track while the rails are in place on the crossties, and more particularly to such apparatus having an endless ballast removing unit extending beneath the crossties and under both rails of the railroad track.

Heretofore, it has been necessary to provide separate ballast removing units for opposite sides of a railroad track which necessitated separate frames, controls, etc. for each of the ballast removing units. By the present invention, a single endless ballast removing unit works simultaneously on both sides of the railroad track underneath both rails and eiectively removes ballast from beneath the crossties for the entire length thereof.

It is an object of my invention to provide apparatus having a rotating endless ballast removing unit mounted on a railroad vehicle for rotation in a vertical plane transversely of the rails, with the lower run of the endless unit extending beneath the crossties under both rails of the railroad track.

Another object of the present invention is to provide support means for the rotating endless unit which means has its lower supporting surface extending beyond the ends of the crossties and lower than the bottom of the crossties so that the lower run of the endless unit will be wholly beneath the crossties for the entire length of the crossties.

An additional object is to provide an endless ballast removing unit comprising an endless link chain having ballast engaging tools mounted thereon for loosening and removing ballast from beneath the crossties and both rails of the railroad track.

Apparatus embodying features of my invention is shown in the accompanying drawings yforming a part of this application, in which:

Fig. l is a side elevational view of the apparatus embodying the present invention and showing a ballast removing unit at the rear end thereof reaching under the crossties;

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a rear elevational view of the apparatus shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and showing the ballast removing unit of my apparatus extending under the crossties and both rails of the railroad track;

Fig. 4 is an elevational view, partially diagrammatic, of the drive shaft for the apparatus;

Fig. 5 is a top plan view, partially diagrammatic, of the drive means for the apparatus embodying my invention;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary front elevational view, partly broken away and with the forward portion of the apparatus removed, showing the drive means for my ballast removing unit;

Fig. 7 is a side elevational view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary rear elevational view, showing the apparatus in non-working position with the ballast removing unit removed;

Fig. 9 is a plan view of several links of the ballast removing unit;

Fig. l0 is 1an enlarged, cross sectional view taken substantially along the line 10-10 of Fig. 9 and showing the lforward side of the ballast removing unit and the ballast engaging tools thereon in several positions; and,

Fig. 11 is a diagrammatic view of the hydraulic system for the apparatus embodying the present invention.

Referring now in detail to Figs. 1, 2 and 3 in which apparatus embodying the present invention is shown, a vehicle designated generally by the numeral 1li is shown comprising a main frame 11 on which ilanged wheels 12 are mounted for riding along the rails 13 of a railroad track. The rails 13 are seated on tie plates 14 that rest on crossties 16 on ballast of the railroad roadbed. A seat 17 is provided for the operator of the vehicle 10 and suitable control levers indicated generally by the numeral 1S are arranged in a convenient position for access by the operator.

For driving the vehicle 10, a diesel engine 19 is mounted on the main frame 11 and has a drive shaft 21 extending therefrom (see Figs. 4 and 5). Drive sprockets 22 and 23 are mounted on shaft 21 and sprocket chains 24 extend therefrom to sprockets 25 and 26, respectively. Sprocket 26 drives fluid pump 27 through shaft 28 and sprocket 25 drives a double fluid pump 29 through shaft 39. A huid pump 31 is driven from shaft 21 through the sprockets 35 which are connected by a suitable sprocket chain. Fluid pump 31 supplies fluid to the uid motor 32 through suitable iluid connections (not shown) and uid motor 32 drives the apparatus along the track in the working position. To accomplish this, motor 32 is connected to a gear reducer 33 through sprockets 34 and 36 and sprocket chain 37. An output shaft 3S from the gear reducer 33 has a sprocket 39 thereon for driving the sprocket chain '41. Sprocket chain 41 is connected to a sprocket 42 on a countershaft 43 which is connected at opposite ends to rear axle 44 and front axle 46 through suitable bevel gears. Countershaft 43 rotates relative to sprocket 42 in the travelling position of the vehicle and a splined clutch 47 is disposed on countershaft 43 for engaging sprocket 42 in the working position of the apparatus.

For propelling the vehicle 10 in non-working position, pump 27 supplies fluid to uid motors 48 and 49 (see Fig. 4) through suitable uid connections. Fluid motors 48 and 49 drive countershaft 43 through sprocket chains 51 and 52 and sprockets 53 and 54 on shaft 43. Sprockets 53 and 54 may be disposed for engagement with and disengagement with countershaft 43, if desired. Countershaft 43 is mounted on pillow blocks 55 secured to the underside of frame 11.

The ballast removal unit is indicated generally by the numeral 56 and is mounted rearwardly of the rear wheels 12 so that the weight of the vehicle 16 will not be on the rails directly over the area where the ballast is being removed from beneath the crossties.

A plow assembly, indicated generally by the numeral 57, is mounted forwardly of the ballast removing unit 56 on each side of vehicle 10 for removing ballast outwardly from the ends of the crossties 16 so as to clear a way for the ballast removing unit 56. Each of the plow assemblies 57 is pivotally mounted at 58 to brackets 59 iixed to the main frame 11. A plow blade 61 is mounted on the plow assemblies 57 and has its outer end positioned rearwardly of its inner end so that ballast or foreign matter will be moved outwardly from the ends of the crossties 16. To hold the blades 61 in the ballast, the top edge of the blades is inclined rearwardly Y blades 61 and are pivotally mounted at 63 to slide blocks 64 (see Fig. l) which slide-in slideways 66 formed on the lower end of plate portion 67. f Adjusting screws 68 are secured at theirlower ends to blocks 64 and are fixed at their upper ends tothe plate portion Y67. Thus,

upon rotation of the screws 68, the plow `blades 617Will x be moved Yvertically through the slide blocks 64 in slideways 66. Y

To move the plow assembly 57 inwardly and outwardly of the ends' of the crosstiesabont the pivot 58, a hydraulic cylinder 69 Vis pivotally mounted to the main frame 1,1 and has a piston rod 71 extending therefrom and connected to thev plate portion 67 whereby actuation of hydraulic cylinder 69 moves the plow assembly 57 horizontally about the pivot 58. To adjust the blade 61 and Vto raise the plow yassembly 57 alongside the vehicle for traveling along the track in non-working position, a liexible cable 72 is connected `at one end to an eyelet 73 extending from the outer portion of blade 61 (see Fig. 1). The other end of flexible cable 72 is connectedto a rotatable drum 76 about which the cable 72 is wound. The drum 76 is driven by a uid motor 77 connected to gear box 79 through sprockets 78 and sprocket chain 80.

The ballast removing unit 56 comprises an endless link chain having al plurality of connected links 81 (see Fig. 9). The upper run of the link chain extends over a drive sprocket 82 and an upper idler sprocket 83 and is guided and supported thereby. The upper run of the link chain is further supported by intermediate rollers 84 and 85. The upper run of the link chain is supported and guided by lower idler sprockets 86 arranged on 'both Y sides of the track. Each of the sprockets 82, 83 and vehicle 10 adjacent a vertical plate 90 on the main frame Y 11 for supporting the ballast removing unit 56. Each pantograph 89 comprises laterally spaced pairs of upper Varms 91 and llaterally spaced pairs' of lower arms 92. The `arms 91 and `92 are pivotally mounted at 93 to the main frame 11. To raise and lower the pantograph 89, a hydraulic cylinder 94 is pivotally mounted at 96 (see Figs. 6 and 7) to the main frame 11 and has a piston rod 97 yextending therefrom and connected to the upper arms 91 through a cross member 98 extending between the yarms 91. A supporting frame 99 is Vpivotally mounted on the outer ends of the arms 91 and 92 and has downwardly extending support arms 101 aflixed thereto. The lower idler lsprockets 86 are mounted on the support arms 101'and it is noted that in Working position, the lower supporting surface of sprockets 86 is arranged at a position lower than the bottom surface of the crossties 16 so that the lower run of the ballast removing chain 4 reducer 108 which drives sprocket 82 through sprocket 109 and sprocket chain 111.

Sliding frame 105 is mounted similarly to the sliding frame 104 between angles 103 on the box channels 102. The sprocket 83 is mounted on sliding frame 165 by a pair of upwardly extending supporting arms 112. For

Vmoving the sliding frames 104.. and 105 inwardly and outwardly of the pantographs 89 on the supporting frame 99, cach.Y Ctfthe` slidingl frames has a c'ylinderlll pivotally connected to across member 114 extending between the box channels 102 (see Figs. 6 and7). A piston rod 116 extends therefrom and isl pivotally'connected to a v bracketV 117 extending downwardly from the sliding frames. Thus, uponactuation of fthe cylinders 113, the frames 104 and 105 may be, moved inwardly or outwardly of the vehicle 10 so as to adjustthe ballast removing chain in any desired relation.

As shown in Fig. 9, the link chain comprises a pluralityof links 81 connected to eachother by link pins 118. The links 81 comprise spacedrparallel sides 120 and 121 spaced approximately 8 inches apart. Cross members 119 extend between the sides 120 and 121 and in working position, ballast tends to, pile infront of the cross members 119 and is removed thereby. 'I'he parallel sides 120 and 121 Vshould be at least Z'inches apartV to obtain satisfactory results in removing ballast from beneath the cross ties andboth rails of the railroad trac-ks.

The forward side 121'of the links 81 faces in the direction of movement of the vehicle 10 in working position and each of the links has a ballast engaging tool welded theretoV as at 122 (see Fig.- 10). The ballast engagingtool comprises a main body portion 123 which is welded to the forward side 121 and a single rod-like projection or tooth l124 extending perpendicularly to the body portionV 123. YThe rod-like `projection 124 is arranged in a direction parallel to the direction of travel of the vvehicle 10 in the working position thereof. The extensions or teeth 124 on successive links are staggered in angular relation and as shown in Fig. lO, four diierent positions onfthe body'portion 123 are shown. The rst position is approximately 30 above the horizontal axis of body Vportion 123, the second position is parallel to said horizontal axis, the third position is arranged approximately 30 below the horizontal axis'of the body portion 123, and the fourth position is arranged in a vertical direction substantially perpendicular to the horizontal axis of the body portion 123. Thus, for four successive links, the first link would have an extension as shown in the firstV position, the second would have au extension as shown in the second position, the third would have an extension as shown in the third position, and the fourth'link would have an extension as shown in the fourth position Yof Fig.'10. The projections 124 engage the ballast and break up the lumps and hard portions thereof so that the ballast can be easily removed by the ballast removing unit. The projections 124 also aid in transporting the ballast to a position outwardly of is supported in working position at a position lower than Y the pantographs 89. The upper sprockets 82 and 83 are movable inwardly and outwardly of the pantographs 89 and supporting frames 99 in order to take up any slack in the ballast removing chain and to allow the chain to be adjusted.` For this purposeybox channels 102 (see Fig. 7) are secured to each side of the supporting frame 99. Angle members 103 are welded to the inner side of the box channels 102 and form guideways for a sliding frame 104'on one side of the vehicle and a sliding frame 10S on the other side. Sliding frame 104 comprises a plate member 106 adapted'for sliding in the slideway formed between the angles 103. Mounted on the plate 106 is afluid motor 107 connected to a gear the rails, but the majority of the ballast is normally transferred outwardly of the rails by the cross members 119. The fourth position of the extension 124 shown in Fig. l0 is primarily to' maintain the stability of the ballast removing chain Vso that it will not tend to twist from the engagement of theV rod-like members 124 in the other three positions.

Referring now to Fig. 1l in which a diagrammatic View Yof the hydraulic circuit is shown, -the Huid reservoir for the hydraulic system is indicated at 126. The pump 29 is driven by the engine 19 Vthrough shaft 21 as indicated previously,.and is a double pump and is supplied by uid from reservoir 126 through the line 127. The pump 29 suppliesY uidto vvalves 128 and 129 through lines 131 and 132'respectively. Return lines 133 and 134 are provided for returning uid tothe reservoir 1126 from the valves 128 and 129 respectively., The valves Y128 and 129 operate identical units `audfor the purpose of illustration only the valve 128 will be explained in detail.

Valve 128 comprises valve sections 136, 137, 138 and 139. Valve section 136 controls the hydraulic cylinder 94 for a pantograph 89 through uid lines 141 and 142. Valve section 137 controls the hydraulic cylinder 113 for one of the sliding frames and has flow lines 143 and 144 extending thereto for supplying iuid. Valve section 138 controls the hydraulic `cylinder Y69 for the plow assembly 57, the uid lines indicated by numerals 146 and 147. Valve section 139V controls the motor 77 for driving the rotatable drum76. Motor 77 is reversible and fluid pressure lines 148 and 149 supply fluid thereto while line 151 is a return lineto the reservoir 126.

Pump 27 is driven by shaft V21 as previously indicated, and is supplied with fluid from the reservoir 126 through ow line 154. Pump 27 supplies iluid to the valve 153 through supply line 156, a return line 157 extending from valve 153 to reservoir 126. Valve 153 comprises valve sections 159, 161, and 162. Valve section 159 controls the motor 107 for driving the ballast removing chain unit. Fluid pressure lines 163 and 164 provide fluid for the motor 107 and a return line 166 extends from the motor to the reservoir. Valve section 161 controls the drive motor 48 and supply lines 167 and 168 supply uid thereto and return line 169 returns fluid to the reservoir. Valve section 162 controls the drive motor 49 and uid pressure lines 171 and 172 connect valve 162 with the motor 49 and a return line 173 returns the fluid to the reservoir.

Fluid is supplied to the pump 31 from the reservoir through the fluid pressure line 174 and pump 31 supplies fluid to the valve 176 through pressure line 177, fluid line 178 returning fluid to the reservoir. Pressure lines 181 and 182 supply fluid to the drive motor 32 and a return line 183 returns the uid to the reservoir.

It is understood that suitable hand levers indicated generally by the numeral 18 in Figs. l-3, are provided for each of the valves and valve sections shown in Fig. l which hand levers are easily accessible to the operator of the vehicle 10.

In operation, the vehicle is positioned on the rails where it is desired to remove ballast from beneath the rails and the crossties. To place the apparatus in working position from nonworking position in which the link chain is removed from the sprockets 82, 83 and 86, ballast is first dug out, by hand or other suitable means, from under the tracks -at the position where it is desired to begin the ballast removing operation. After a path has been formed in the ballast under the railroad track, the chain which is disconnected at one of its links by removal of a link pin 118 is slipped under the crossties and the rails and is positioned around the sprockets 82, 83 and 86, at which position the link pin 118 is inserted. The cylinders 94 are then actuated and the sprockets 86 are lowered from -the position Shown in Fig. 8 to the desired height which depends on the desired depth of cut beneath the crossties. The chain supporting surface of the lower sprockets 86 extends below the bottom of the crossties 16. After the sprockets 86 have been properly positioned, the cylinders 113 are actuated and the sliding frames 104 and 165 are moved outwardly to take up slack in the ballast removing unit 56. The ballast removal unit 56 is now in position for operation.

In order to clear a path for the ends of the lower run of the ballast removing unit 56, the plow assemblies 57 are lowered by actuation of the motors 77 which lowers the plow blades 61 to the proper position adjacent the ends of the crossties 16. In this position, the motor 107 for driving the ballast removing unit 56 is actuated there by rotating the ballast removing unit in a plane transversely of the railroad track. The vehicle is driven,

in working position by the motor 31 and in non-working or travelling position by the motors 48 and 49. The plow blades 61 move the ballast away from the ends of the crossties to clear a path for the ends of the lower run of the ballast removing unit 56 and the ballast engaging tools 124 break up the ballast so that it can be dragged from under the crossties bythe link chain.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that I have provided apparatus for removing ballast from beneath the railroad tracks that extends under both rails and under the crossties simultaneously. The ballast removing unit comprises a single endless link chain that is supported on opposite sides of the rails by sprockets extending below the crossties so that the lower run of the unit is wholly beneath the crossties for the entire length thereof. The forward side of 'the link chain is provided with ballast engaging tools for loosening the ballast and aiding in the removal thereof from under the track. The link chain has parallel sides spaced approximately 8 inches so that cross members extending between the parallel sides will engage ballast and drag the ballast from beneath the crossties.

While I have shown my invention in but one form, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptible of various changes and modifications without departing from the spirit thereof, and I desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall be placed thereupon as are specifically set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In apparatus for removing ballast from beneath the crossties of a railroad track, a vehicle having a main frame supported by wheels for riding on the rails, a pair of vertically spaced parallel links pivotally mounted adjacent the inner ends thereof on each side of the vehicle and extending transversely of the main frame, a pair of vertically spaced support members mounted adjacent the outer ends of each pair of links, the lower support members extending beyond the ends of the crossties and having their supporting surfaces lower than the bottom of the crossties, the upper support members being slidably mounted for movement relative to the links inwardly and outwardly of the main frame in a generally horizontal plane an endless chain ballast removing unit mounted on the support members for rotating in a vertical plane transversely of the vehicle, the lower run of the endless unit extending beneath the crossties under both rails of the railroad track and the upper run thereof extending over the crossties and over both rails, and means for raising and lowering said links and said support members thereon for adjusting the height of the ballast removing unit.

2. In apparatus for removing ballastvfrom beneath the crossties of a railroad track, a vehicle having a main frame supported by wheels for riding on the rails, a pair of vertically spaced parallel links pivotally mounted adjacent the inner ends thereof on each side of the main frame and extending transversely thereof, a supporting frame pivotally mounted on the outer ends of each of said pair of links, a pair of vertically spaced sprockets mounted on each of the supporting frames adjacent the outer ends of the supporting frames, the lower sprockets having a supporting surface lower than the bottom surface of the crossties and extending beyond the ends of the crossties, the upper sprockets being slidably supported on their respective supporting frames for movement inwardly and outwardly thereof in a substantially horizontal plane, an endless link chain ballast removing unit mounted on the sprockets for rotation in a vertical plane transversely of the track, the lower run of the endless unit extending beneath the crossties under both rails of the railroad track and the upper run thereof extending over the crossties and over both rails, means for raising and lowering said links and said sprockets for adjusting the height of the ballast removing unit, and means for driving one of said sprockets thereby driving said endless unit.

3. In apparatus for removing ballast from beneath the crossties of a railroad track, a vehicle having a main frame supported by wheels for riding on the rails, a supporting frame mounted on each side of the main frame and Yexteiiding transversely thereof, a pair of vertically spaced'spport members mounted adjacent the outer ends of each of the supporting Vframes, the lower support mem-l bers extendingfbeyond the ends of the crossties and having thereon supporting surfaces lower than the bottom of the crosstries in the working position of the apparatus, the upper support members being slidably mounted on Y thelrsupporting frames for movement relative thereto inwardly and'otwardly of the main frame in a rectilinear generally horizontal plane, an endless ballast removing unit mounted on the support members-forrotating Vin a'vertical plane transversely of the vehicle and being adjusted by movement of the upper support members in a horizontal plane, the lower run of the endless unit extending beneath the crossties under both rails of the railroad track and the upper run thereof extending'over the crossties and over both rails, and means for raisingV and Y on and extending between the sprockets on opposite sides of the vehicle for rotating in a vertical plane transversely of the vehicle, the lower run of the endless chain extending beneath the crosstie's under both rails of the railroad track and the upper run Yof the endless chain extending over the crossties and over both rails, Ysaid link chain comprising parallel sides spaced at least twoinches from each other, cross members extending between said parallel sides and engaging and dragging ballast from beneath the crossties when therapparatus is in working position, and Vballast engaging tools mounted on the forward side of the Ylink chain facing therdirection of-movement of the vehicle, saidrballast engaging tools comprising' rodlike members extending substantially parallel to the direction of movement of the vehicle andv angularly spaced in staggered relation on the forward side of successive links Yof the link chain with at least some of the links having rod-like members extending downwardly in a -generally vertical. direction to balance the chain.

` 5 In apparatus for removing ballast from beneath the rossties of a railroadv track, a vehicle havinga Vmain frame supported by Wheels for riding on the rails, chain support members on the main frame and overhanging each side of the vehicle, `an endless linky chainmourited on the support'members with the lower run thereof extending beneath the crosstiesunder both yrails of the railroad track and the upper run thereof extending over the crossties and overbothr'rail's, the links of said chain embodying a pair of side members with ballast engaging tools mounted on one'side member thereof facing the direction of movement Vofthe vehicle,Y said ballast engaging tools comprising rod-like members projecting forwardly from said one side member of said links, and other rod-like members projecting generally vertically downwardly to stabilize the working flight of the chain ina generally horizontal plane.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 823,855 Gilmore June 19, 1906 945,335 Levin ---7. Y Jan. 4, 1910 2,284,035 Blair May 26, 1942 2,609,619 Jones Sept. 9, 1952 2,865,621 Proctor Dec. 23, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 850,044 France Aug. 28, 1939 907,404 Germany Feb. 1l, 1954 

